Land Use Department

12 APPENDIX A: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY

Question 1: The Best Things About Bethel

According to those surveyed, the most frequently mentioned things regarding what people like best about Bethel are:

1. Its small town atmosphere and charm (more than 50%).
2. The people - a good "friendly" mix of "economically diverse" people.
3. The downtown shopping area.
4. Its proximity to Danbury and other bigger cities ("where there is something to do").
5. The schools, specifically, the new education park.
6. Its safety.

Questions 2 & 16: The Least-Liked Things About Bethel, and Needed Improvements

The most frequently mention conditions and circumstances regarding respondents' least favorite things about Bethel, and needed improvements are:

1. The lack of certain town facilities, such as a public swimming pool, adequate library, and a teen and/or recreational center for all ages; the need for improved schools, and upgraded parks facilities, especially in Meckauer and Parloa parks, which were cited as lacing essential facilities such as trash cans and decent public restroom accommodations. Also, the pond in Meckauer park "needs a cleaning so swimming can be made possible."
   
   
2. The traffic on Greenwood Avenue, Route 302, and along Route 6. Suggestions have been made to limit parking on Greenwood Avenue to one side of the street only.
   
   
3. The condition of the sidewalks on Greenwood Avenue - descried as deteriorated, cracked and dangerous. Also mentioned were the lack of bike paths and adequately delineated crosswalks.
   
   
4. The downtown area along Greenwood Avenue - described as dilapidated, rundown, and seedy. Respondents would like to see controlled growth with aesthetic considerations taken into account. Also contributing to the general rundown appearance of Bethel is its apparent 'open zoning' rules. Lack of strict zoning enforcement has prompted homeowners to use their front lawns as junk yards.
   
   
5. The high taxes and the constant political bickering over education - "the mud-slinging politics" - have caused residents to become increasingly frustrated with town selectmen.
   
   
6. The large condominium complexes and subdivisions that look like "ghettos" - "I hate looking at Bethel's beautiful hills and ridges and seeing them occupied by major condo developments."
   
   
7. The condition and capacity of certain roads, (e.g. the potholes on Wolfpits Road and the respective widths of Walnut Hill Road and Nashville Road.)
   
   
8. The need for more low income housing.
   
   
9. Inadequate sanding and plowing of snow, and
   
   
10. The lack of public sewers, especially in the Stony Hill and Chimney Heights areas.

Honorable Mentions

The canopy ("poop bag cover") hanging over the Food Bag (4.5%) - this "ridiculous structure" is a "disgrace", a "monstrosity", and an "eyesore"; O'Donnell's ("somebody should tear that place down, it's disgusting") Garage, more kindly described as the "unsightly O'Donnell properly"; the empty Finast building; the billboards, especially when entering Bethel from Danbury; the graffiti; the litter; the lack of grocery store and other shopping options; the lack of sufficient parking in town; and the Danbury Sewage Treatment Plant/landfill that emits an offensive odor to neighboring areas.

Question 3: The Future Development of Route 6

Of those surveyed, the majority agree that the future development of Route 6 should be limited to controlled commercial development, so as not to lose Bethel's "New England charm." In order to increase the tax base, most people would like to see "the mess on Route 6" become light commercial (including small individual shops, upscale restaurants and recreational centers for families) and/or office space with aesthetic considerations taken into account, such as "green space." There is strong disdain for any "honky tonk" appearance, big box stores such as K-Mart or Walmart, strip malls, fast-food chains and gas stations. A large number of residents favor no growth at all, citing that they do not want Route 6 to become "another Federal Road." Other suggestions, although in the minority, include industrial growth, single and multi-family housing, big box stores (10 people), a grocery store, a sewer (in the Stony Hill section), and a post office. Another common suggestion was to slow new growth until vacant buildings are either filled or removed. There was also some mention of widening the road to alleviate traffic congestion.

Questions 4 - 15

The responses to questions 4 through 15 are summarized as follows (pie charts have been provided for your convenience):

4. Bethel center traffic should be better managed with changes in parking, pavement markings and traffic signals.

Twenty-eight percent strongly agree, 37 percent agree, and 26 percent disagree that Bethel center traffic should be better managed. Thus, the majority (65%) agree that traffic in Bethel is a problem.

5. Commercial and industrial growth should be encouraged, if built in the right locations.

Thirty-eight percent strongly agree and 41 percent agree that commercial and industrial growth should be encouraged, if built in the right location. Thus the majority (79%) agree with the above statement. However, this contrasts somewhat with the sentiment concerning the future development of Route 6, where people would like to see controlled commercial growth and no industry. In sum, most people do not think Route 6 is the right location for industrial growth.

6. We are doing an adequate job of protecting Bethel's historic and small town character.

Fifty-three percent agree and 25 percent disagree that Bethel is doing an adequate job of protecting its historical character. However, there has been some general concern over recent approvals of certain structures such as the Food Bag canopy. Most people said they would like to see some sort of architectural unity within the town.

7. We need to create more opportunities for young families, the elderly, and working class families to live here.

Twenty-six percent strongly agree, 36 percent agree, and 28 percent disagree that Bethel needs to create more opportunities for young families, the elderly, and working class families to live. There is some controversy over "ugly subdivisions" and condominium structures not "fitting in" with the general character of the town. However, the majority (62%) agree that low income housing should be provided if it is in the right location.

8. There should be greater design review and concern for the aesthetics of new development.

Forty-eight percent strongly agree and 39 percent agree that there should be greater design review and concern for aesthetics of new development. This overwhelming majority (87%) is in reaction to, again, the Food Bag canopy, the run-down appearance of Bethel as a whole, and the desire to retain Bethel's small town character and charm.

9. Bethel's tax base is adequately diversified among homeowners, businesses, and industries with no one group burdened.

Forty-nine percent agree, 23 percent disagree, 7 percent strongly disagree, and 17 percent do not know whether Bethel's tax base adequately diversified among homeowners, businesses, and industries with no one group burdened. Although quite a few people do not know, there is some conflict about taxes being too high.

10. Bethel should take more steps towards protecting its streams, wetlands, aquifers, and watershed.

Forty-one percent strongly agree and 42 percent agree that Bethel should take more steps towards protecting its streams, wetlands, aquifers, and watershed. Thus, the majority (83%) agrees with the above statement.

11. Our town facilities (schools, library, parks, etc.) are adequate.

Fifteen percent strongly agree, 39 percent agree, 30 percent disagree and 14 percent strongly disagree that Bethel's town facilities are adequate (see above for further description of needed improvements in town facilities). There is a closer margin between agreement and disagreement on this issue than on others: 54 percent agree whereas 44 percent disagree.

12. Downtown Bethel should be a historic district with architectural regulation.

Forty-seven percent strongly agree, 34 percent agree and 13 percent disagree that downtown Bethel should be a historic district with architectural regulation. This ties in with questions 6 and 8, in trying to preserve Bethel's small town character and charm.

13. Bethel has an adequate supply of affordable housing.

Fourteen percent strongly agree, 47 percent agree, 23 percent disagree, and 8 percent strongly disagree that Bethel has an adequate supply of affordable housing. This ties in with question #7 and the discord over "ugly" subdivisions versus affordable low income housing.

14. There should be more open space available to the public.

Twenty-eight percent strongly agree, 40 percent agree, and 23 percent disagree that there should be more open space available to the public. One of the things people like best about Bethel is its open, airy feel; however, people would like to see existing parks cleaned up first.

15. The water and sewer service areas should be enlarged to serve more residences.

Nineteen percent strongly agree, 32 percent agree, 29 percent disagree, 11 percent strongly disagree, and 9 percent do not know whether water an sewer areas should be enlarged to serve more residences. There is disagreement among those who are unhappy with current water and sewer surcharges versus those who live in the Stony Hill and Chimney Heights areas who want sewers. Several residents have also requested that sewer hook-up be on a voluntary basis, as opposed to a mandatory one.

Other Interesting Items

1. Lack of a planned recycling program/center
2. Road signage - lack of conformity, none at all, or tacky
3. Panhandling and begging around Sycamore and Dunkin' Donuts
4. Too many unsightly gas stations
5. Difficult access from Stony Hill to Greenwood Avenue
6. Town does not furnish garbage collection
7. no golf course
8. Not enough speed regulation, especially stopping at crosswalks
9. Limited shopping options
10. First production of vodka in the United States was in Bethel.

Figures

Fig A-6: Survey
Fig A-7: Responses, Questions 4-15
Fig A-8: Question 4 & 5
Fig A-9: Question 6 & 7
Fig A-10: Question 8 & 9
Fig A-11: Question 10 & 11
Fig A-12: Question 12 & 13
Fig A-13: Question 14 & 15